What is the difference between a property tax lien and a tax deed?

A property tax lien and a tax deed are two different legal processes that are used in Virginia when someone doesn’t pay their property taxes. A property tax lien is a legal claim placed on property to guarantee payment of taxes or other debt. A lien is placed against the property and can only be removed by paying the debt that is owed. In Virginia, a lien will be placed against a property if the owner has not paid their taxes for more than a year. A tax deed is the process that the local government uses to force the sale of a property to recover the amount of unpaid taxes. In Virginia, if taxes remain unpaid for two years after the tax lien has been placed, the local government can issue a tax deed to the property. This deed will allow them to sell the property at a tax sale, with the proceeds going to the local government to pay for the taxes that the owner owes. The main difference between a tax lien and a tax deed is that a lien is a legal claim on property to guarantee payment of taxes, while a tax deed is the process of selling the property to recover the amount of unpaid taxes.

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